Wordless Wednesday

 

Back to my normal

It certainly has been a much more relaxed (and less emotional) week than the last. I did get a call late in the week for my next mammogram appointment in February 2023. It amazes they are booking so far out already. I've put it in my calendar and won't think about it again until closer to the date.

Some shopping did happen this week. Groceries on Monday, and I made a trip to Dollarama and the thrift stores on Tuesday. The best deal at the grocery store was 2 lbs. of blueberries for $4.88. I froze most in two cup bags for later, the rest will be used in my breakfast smoothies. Other than that, there was nothing exceptional - the old regular prices seem to be the new "sale" prices. 

I did do well at the thrift stores. I found a book for Eli, he loves to be read to, as well as a counted cross stitch kit and more yarn (because, of course, I don't already have enough crafts to work on). It was senior's day so I had a 30% off discount. But it was at the Salvation Army that I found my favorite item - a leather purse for around $5 (after everyday senior's discount). I checked it all over and there were no rips or tears in the fabric and the bottom of the purse wasn't dirty or scuffed. I do like purses - it doesn't matter how fat I get, they still fit!

Out in the yard, the tomatoes are starting to ripen on the vine. I've been picking everyday and having them with my lunch or dinner. Two larger peppers were also picked. I'm looking forward to next week when I will pull a hill of potatoes. The one plant is starting to die back so I'm thinking they're just about ready for harvesting. 

We had a very nice rain on Thursday with cool temperatures. My new rain gauge indicated about a 1/4 inch. I'm always happy to have Mother Nature do the watering. My containers have gotten huge this year. The variegated coleus is blooming. I'm hoping to keep at least one or two of the plants going over the winter. I'll take slips rather than transplanting the entire plants as I haven't the room for them otherwise.

My one container of petunias on the deck had gotten very leggy and was looking terrible. I gave it a haircut a week or ten days ago and lost most of the blooms. Today it's looking fantastic. You wouldn't know it but there is a geranium in there too. I won't do that again as the petunia has hogged the space.

Back indoors, I spent some time knitting; I finished the first of the scarves I'll donate this year and continued working on my tank top. The scarf used up four balls of leftover yarn with just enough left over that I don't feel awful tossing the remainder out. I weaved the ends in yesterday on it as well as the crocheted baby blanket I finished last week. I'll pull a few more balls from my stash and start on another scarf in a day or so.

This morning started out lovely, with a temp of 17C (63F) when I sat out on the deck with my first cup of tea. The forecast is for 28C (82F) later today and those temps are expected to last for the rest of the week. There is a good possibility we'll have thunderstorms - I've had a notification of lightning with 100 kms already this morning. For the moment the windows are open for the fresh air but that won't last much longer. 

I've got baseball and football to watch today, so I'll be happy to stay indoors when it heats up. In the meantime, I'll head outdoors to check on the containers and enjoy some more deck time. I've started reading a novel, Catherine Coulter's Back Fire and I'm really enjoying the story.

I'll leave you with this little sign I found at the dollar store. I'm planning to give it to my daughter but to be honest, it applies to me too. :)  Have a great week ahead everyone.

Friday funny

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

A rollercoaster of a week

I'll start by saying that all's well that ends well. Mostly.

A few weeks ago I had a call from the Breast Cancer screening center that the radiologist had noted something irregular in my mammogram results so I needed to have more detailed testing completed. The appointment was originally set for the beginning of September, but a cancellation meant I was able to get into the imaging center this past Tuesday. I've had to do this once before, in that case it was another mammogram and I was done. This time, however, I was subjected to another mammogram on my left side and an ultrasound. To be honest, I wasn't too concerned initially but the ultrasound tech took, what I felt, was a lot of time taking pictures and swirling her wand around. (I did tell her if she saw anything kicking or found a heart beat I was out of there.)

Of course the results aren't immediate, so I went home not knowing if there was anything to be worried about, so I worried just in case. I had made an appointment with my doctor for Friday morning to get the results. This is when my level of anxiety ramped up. When he did eventually arrive in the examination room, his first words, "what brings you in today?" Really, it was your office that made the appointment with the imaging center... I explained I was there for the results of the mammogram and ultrasound. He played around on his computer, reading the report and said (and I kid you not), "Well, it's most likely nothing. They want to follow up in six months. You'll have to call our office so we can make the referral." I think I asked him a question but I was just shocked...most likely....what the heck does that mean? He provided no additional information so I got up and walked out. What a waste of time that appointment was.

Later in the day, I signed into my health records online. This is what the report said:

FINDINGS:

Cone compression views of the breast demonstrate dispersal of fibroglandular tissue.  Ultrasound reveals no solid or cystic lesions.

IMPRESSION:

No mammographic nor sonographic evidence malignancy.  Presumably the findings were on the basis of normal fibroglandular tissue.  Suggest left breast mammogram and 6 months time.

After reading this for myself, my anxiety level went to zero. I don't understand why the doctor didn't just read the information to me, and instead gave me the impression that there was still some possibility of an issue. I should note, the document I found in my records wouldn't have been released until my doctor had seen me. If only finding a new family doctor wasn't so difficult...sigh.

Meanwhile I had been preoccupied for much of the week, so I haven't accomplished a whole lot. Even some regular housework was not completed. I did spend a fair amount of time on the couch catching up on PVR'ed television or baseball and football. I finished the back portion of my tank top, and started the front. A crocheted baby blanket is done, except for sewing in the threads, and a scarf using up small ball of yarn is on the needles. 

We had wacky weather too, we reached a high of 32C (90F) one day, but this morning it was a mere 8C (46F). There were a few storms and we got a wee bit of rain, but worse was the winds that blew through yesterday. I had propped my poor tomatoes up against the shed, and they were again beaten up by the wind. At least two of the larger stems are laying flat on the deck!  One of my bird ornaments was knocked off it's perch on the shed wall and landed on another ornament that normally sits on the deck and both were broken. In the front yard the welcome sign took a tumble too. Clearly, I must find a stake for it. Thankfully, there was no damage to the trees, no branches down, just a few more pine cones to pick up.

On Thursday morning, I got out for a walk so I have some photos to share. (With the weather being so variable I've been walking indoors instead).

On the way through the park I spotted this hare sunning itself. A little further along, there was a grackle in the grass that just sat and watched me pass by. I don't know if it was injured or simply resting. Quite the stink eye I got!

Over at the creek, I spotted this family of ducks. I suspect they are the same family I saw a few weeks ago - at that time there were 10 ducklings. The creek is very low, and there weren't many ducks (and no geese). The city has finally mowed the area on the west side of the creek, and the grasshoppers were thick.
At the pond, I was hoping to see the pelicans but they weren't around. The wildflowers are starting to go to seed and the pond itself has a lot of scum. Its really quite stinky!

The water level must be low too as the nest of the red-necked Grebes has moved (or been moved) from the spot it was earlier int he year. I assume she is still nesting because I didn't see any young birds. 
Today, is another day of baseball, football, knitting, and some neglected housework. Those bathrooms don't clean themselves, do they?  It's a good day to stay indoors, since it is cloudy and overcast. Now I just need to get moving.
Have a great week ahead everyone!

Friday Funny

 

Wordy Wednesday

 

:( We had strong winds blow through on Tuesday, and I found this container of tomatoes tossed off the deck onto the lawn. Fingers crossed, the damage isn't too severe - these are three of the plants I grew from seed saved from last year's plants.